themselves up, and hang their heads on the slender stalk.

The chickens are gathered under the wing of the hen, and are at rest: the hen herself is at rest also.

The little birds have ceased their warbling they are asleep on the boughs, each one with his head behind his wing.

There is no murmur of bees around the hive, or amongst the honeyed woodbines; they have done their work, and lie close in their waxen cells.

The sheep rest upon their soft fleeces, and their loud bleating is no more heard amongst the hills.

There is no sound of a number of voices, or of children at play, or the trampling of busy feet, and of people hurrying to and fro.

The smith's hammer is not heard upon the anvil, nor the harsh saw of the carpenter.

All men are stretched on their quiet beds; and the child sleeps upon the breast of its mother.

Darkness is spread over the skies, and darkness is upon the ground; every eye is shut, and every hand

is still.

Who taketh care of all people when they are sunk in sleep; when they cannot defend themselves, nor see if danger approacheth?

There is an eye that never sleepeth; there is an eye that seeth in dark night as well as in the bright sunshine.

When there is no light of the sun, nor of the moon ; when there is no lamp in the house, nor any little star twinkling through the thick clouds; that eye seeth

every where, in all places, and watcheth continually over all the families of the earth.

The eye that sleepeth not is God's; his hand is always stretched out over us.

He made sleep to refresh us when we are weary: he made night that we might sleep in quiet.

As the mother moveth about the house with her finger on her lips, and stilleth every little noise, that her infant be not disturbed; as she draweth the curtains around its bed, and shutteth out the light from its tender eyes; so God draweth the curtains of darkness around us; so he maketh all things to be hushed and still, that his large family may sleep in peace.

Laborers, spent with toil, and young children, and every little humming insect, sleep quietly, for God watcheth over you.

You may sleep, for he never sleeps: you may close your eyes in safety, for his eye is always open te protect you.

When the darkness is passed away, and the beams of the morning sun strike through your eyelids, begin the day with praising God, who hath taken care of you through the night.

Flowers, when you open again, spread your leaves and smell sweet to his praise.

Birds, when you awake, warble your thanks amongst the green boughs; sing to him before you sing to your mates.

Let his praise be on our hearts when we lie down; let his praise be on our lips when we awake.

A LITTLE bee was summoned one morning into the presence of the queen of the hive. Two officers of state, with their wands of office, walked before him into the royal presence.

Queen Melissa was seated on a throne of amber, sipping double-refined honey. Two of her attendants were employed in fanning her, and kept the apartment cool by the quick vibration of their wings, while two others scattered around the most delicate perfumes, collected from the jasmine and the rose.

"It is time," said the queen, addressing the little bee, "that you should begin to work for the community; your wings are well grown-your limbs strong; so you may enter upon your occupation forthwith. The day is mild-the wind hushed-you could not have a more favorable time for the commencement of your labors."

The little bee was quite delighted to hear that he

was to begin his occupation, and spread out his wings, and would have set out in a minute.

"Stay!" said the queen; "you will require some instruction before you go. First, be particular to mark the spot where the hive is placed: you will easily know it by the lilachs and laburnums which grow near it. And do not go too far for the first day or two. Some little bees have set out in too great haste, and have gone so far that they had not strength to get home again. Secondly, keep close to your work; do not let any idle insects entice you from it; remember it is your duty to work, not for yourself only, but for the whole hive; and that each day you must bring home the regular quantity of honey."

The little bee promised that he would attend strictly to the queen's instructions, and respectfully withdrew backwards from the royal presence.

It was a delightful summer morning.when the little bee issued from the hive. He sprang upwards into the air; but, remembering the advice of the queen not to go too far, he presently lighted on a rose-bush, and began to look around him. He was in the midst of a delightful garden. The early dewdrops glistened like diamonds in the morning sun, and the perfume of a multitude of flowers promised a rich abundance of delicious honey.

As he looked around, he heard a small, sweet voice of one singing on the lawn beneath him :

"With a hop, skip, and a jump,

O, who so blithe as I?

And who can spring so high,
With a hop, skip, and a jump?

"I sip the morning dew

From the clover and violet blue:

No want, no care, have I;

But I hop and whisk,

And dance and frisk,

With my hop, skip, and a jump!"

While the little bee was wondering who in the world it could be that sang so merrily, a grasshopper suddenly sprang upon a broad leaf close beside him. "Good morning, Mr. Bee; glad to see you out this fine day; and where may you be travelling?"

"I am out in quest of honey."

I

"O, just like you bees, always work, work, work, - drudge, drudge, drudge. Why, look at me! never work at all, and have plenty to eat, and am merry all the day long! Do stay a minute, and sing me a song."

"I really do not know one."

"Well, then, I will sing for you;" and, without waiting for an answer, he began

"With a hop, skip, and a jump!

and, taking hold of the little bee, whisked him round and round with a quick gallopade.

The little bee had no objection to this amusement, and thought the grasshopper a most agreeable companion for some time; but, after a while, he began to